My Mind's Eye Blog

Blog Challenge 24: Winners!

What a fun blog challenge we had this month!  Thank you for sharing a sneak peek into your hearts with us through your song selections.  It was fun to visit your blogs and read why you chose the songs you chose.  Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

Are you ready to see who won!?

Layout Winner: Krissy Clark McKee

 

Layout Honorable Mention: Katja Schneider

 

Card Winner: Iwona Palamountain

 

For more beautiful entries, please visit the card and layout galleries:

Card gallery

 

Layout gallery

 

We hope you will join us next month!

Welcome Misty Willis!

HI! I am Misty Willis. I am a stay at home Mom of 5 kids...who keep me laughing all the time. They are all in school, so a large part of my day is spent either volunteering at the various schools, or scrapping my photos of them! I have been scrapping for 14 years since the birth of my first son. I love the art of scrapping, but more importantly, I love the fact that I am preserving my family memories in the process. I want my kids to have beautiful collections of their memories to be able to share with their own children, as I was unable to do that. My family had a house fire when I was 4 and a flood in my house when I was 17...so natural disasters have played a large part in my lack of "history"! My husband and I just celebrated our 17th Anniversary, which means I have literally been married for half of my life! :) I do have every intention of "dancing the funky chicken" with him at our 75th wedding anniversary, so we have a LONG way to go still! I look forward to every minute of it.

I am a detail scrapper if there is such a thing! I like to add the little details to the layout that help to convey the story that the photo is trying to tell. I do mostly hidden journaling, not because I don't want to share my memories, but because I am VERY LONG WINDED! lol...and I do actually TELL the story. I believe that the story is important...because when I am 80 with a failing memory, I will NEED those words to jog my memory!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE My Minds Eye products. The beauty, the variety, and more importantly, the quality of every single piece is beyond compare. I am truly honored to be the Guest for this month...and I do hope to inspire some of you along the way! Here are a few of my favorite past projects using some of my favorite lines...

   

You may recognize Misty’s darling “Snow Balls” layout.  She won the December blog challenge with it.  We would love for you to help us welcome Misty to our team this month.  Leave a comment for Misty by midnight, June 12, 2011.  We will announce the winner of Misty’s Favorite (MME) Things on Monday, June 13, 2011.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Create like Shanna

Hi there!  Shanna here with the last of my May guest design team projects to share with you.  I’ve had such an amazing time this month creating with My Mind’s Eye and can barely believe the month is almost gone. 

I was asked to “showcase my style” today.  I had NO IDEA what to create at first because I love to play and dabble with everything scrapbook related. But one of my favorite things to do is to make different projects that go together or complement each other.    

This little ensemble was created with a friend in mind who just relocated and will be having a housewarming party very soon.  Once she gets unpacked and settled in of course.  I used the oh-so-yummy-Lime Twist collection to create a centerpiece, an invitation, and a little tag for the party gifts or favors.  FUN RIGHT?

 

 

This layout is pretty special to me.  This is my sweet husband Shane and I.  I rarely scrap photos of me but I made an exception since this photo has him in it too. HA HA!  I love the rich golds, grays, dark blues and teals in this Stella and Rose line.  Especially paired up with my sepia toned photo.  I was inspired by the long, skinny, dimensional sticker that says “How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.”  I created a pocket out of the journaling tag to place many skinny strips of paper mentioning all the many reasons why I love my hubby. 

 

This “Call Me” card was just a fun quickie inspired by the fun Stella and Rose chipboard elements. 

 

This layout using “American Made” completely tugs at my heartstrings.  This is my handsome “One and Only” son Brody.  Poor kid is seriously out- numbered in our home with 6 sisters.  It’s been so fun to scrap layouts with things other than pink and flowers and butterflies on them.  I loved the banner from the American Made elements sheet but I needed to customize my title on it to work with my layout and photos.  This is why it looks different than the one that comes with the papers. 

Blog Challenge #23 Winners!

WOW!!!  How incredibly luck we are to have so much inspiration and talent shared with us.  If you haven’t had a chance, please take a moment to look at all the beautiful layout and card entries:

layouts

and

cards

 

We are pleased to announce the winners of Blog Challenge #23:

 

Layout Winner: Kristine Berc

 

Layout Honorable Mention: Monica Enriquez

 

Card Winner: Court’s Crafts

Ladies, would you please email Amber ([email protected]) with your mailing information and the prize you would like to receive!

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to share their talents with us.  We hope you will all join us for our next challenge beginning in June!

Mother’s Day layouts

Shanna Vineyard:

Featured Collection: Stella & Rose

I didn’t have any recent photos of my kids and I together but when I saw this adorable photo that my friend Renee took, I just knew I had to scrap it!  This is our friend Angela and her sweet boy Sims.  She’s a single Momma and a Southern Belle by the very definition. 

I’ve watched her over the last few years that we’ve known each other and love the relationship she and Sims have.  That’s what was so awesome about this photo to me….. you can see the happiness they share.  Little Sims, with his arms tightly wrapped around his Momma like he’s never letting go. 

I hope when I’m older that my kids will still want to be near me and hugging on me like they still do.  That’s all I want.  That’s what will tell me if I’ve been a great parent…… I want my kids to stay close to me.  (Thanks for the sweet photo Renee, Angela, and Sims!) It was fun scrapping it and thinking about my own role as a Mom.  Oh…. And in case you don’t notice…. I created a fun tag for Angela to write a note to Sims on and it’s tucked in behind the photo.  Some Hidden journaling if you will.

 

Anam Stubbington:

Featured Collection: Lime Twist

One of the greatest gifts in my life in my Mother-in-law. She is a blessing to me and my family and I often tell people that I got the best deal in the end – the best mother-in-law in exchange for a not great childhood. My Mother-in-law is the one I trust with my children should anything happen to me, she is the one i go to for advice and she is the one who has stood with me during some of the toughest times.

Often I make layouts with blank spots for the photos simply because the photos haven’t happened yet due to distance or timing but I had the emotional time to spend to make the layout. In these all I have to do is add in a photo when the right one is on my camera.

 

Jana Eubank:

Featured Collection: Stella & Rose

I had the sweetest Mother's Day this year. My kids woke me up singing "Happy Mother's Day to You" to the tune of "Happy Birthday" and then showered me with flowers, cards and letters, and chocolate strawberries for breakfast. Mmmmmmm! I treasure the letters my kids give to me, they always say the sweetest things and I didn't want them hiding away in a box where I would rarely take the opportunity to look at them. Instead, I decided to add them to our family album by creating a pocket page. Creating a pocket page is easy! Simply use adhesive on three sides of your pocket layer so that you can slip your items underneath the top edge. Add stitching, staples, or brads along the three sides for additional strength. Finally, continue your design on the front of the pocket, just like you normally would for any other scrapbook page.

Featured collections: Stella & Rose Gertie collection, Banner Stickers from Fine & Dandy Tickled Pink collection.

 

Trisha Ladouceur:

Here is my layout to remind myself that everyday is a gift as a Mom. I don't need fancy gifts, flowers or even breakfast in bed to know that I am so blessed to have these young men as my sons (although I NEVER complain if I do get spoiled...lol!).

What I love most about My Mind's Eye is that so many of the collections works so very well together, the colours carry over nicely from one collection to the next making it easy to use the new with the old! In this particular project I used The Hip Hooray, LUSH 2, Fine and Dandy (boy and girl collections) and even some Stella & Rose ribbon. Seeing as this layout is also for ME (and also because the colours worked with the ones my boys were wearing) ;) I used the feminine colour pallettes and hopefully didn't make it too girly. I personally think it works and hope you do too!

{I}NSD 2011–Tamara Jensen

One of my favorite songs that I remember my mother singing is “I Often Go Walking”.  A beautiful and touching song that closes with the line: ”Dear Mother all flowers remind me of you”.  My mother is a wonderful gardener and her home is always adorned with lovely flowers and roses.  I have so many memories of her daffodils and tulips in the spring, roses in the summer, and mums in the fall.  She taught me to love and appreciate nature and the the fragrant gift of flowers. 

I found these cheerful pink zinnias for her Mother’s Day gift and had to create a card to go with them! 

I chose the timeless and vintage Stella and Rose “Hazel” collection.  I hand stitched the flowers from MME ribbons and accented them with a Lost and Found button and Lush brads.

Needless to say, we both cried as she read her card today – such a special moment with my dearest friend!

 

Remember: we are celebrating by giving away one of each of our four Lime Twist collections to four lucky winners!  Leave a comment on this blog post (and all blog posts this weekend) by midnight, Thursday, May 12, 2011 for your chance to WIN!

{I}NSD 2011–Amber Packer

I thought I would create a layout to share with you that focuses on my love for my two beautiful sons. I am looking forward to watching them grow and progress in the years to come. I will love them forever.

I wanted a "homey" feel to this layout, so I chose to use the Stella & Rose - Gertie collection. This collection has wonderful colors and classic patterns.

I was hoping you would like to recreate this layout while YOU celebrate the Mother(s) in your life and this wonderful hobby we share. These easy instructions will help:

Supplies:

• 1 - My Mind's Eye -Gertie "Little One' Darling Dots paper (12" x 12")
• 2 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Girly" Diamonds paper (7 3/4" x 9 1/2", 7 1/2" x 9 1/4"
• and 4 1/4" x 6 1/4")
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Friends Forever" Tapestry paper (3 1/2" x 10")
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Friends Forever" Petals paper (3" x 12")
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Delightful" Sweet Stripe paper (2 1/4" x 3 1/4")
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Friends Forever" Layered Chipboard
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Friends Forever" Title
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Delightful" Trims
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Friends Forever" Buttons
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Little One" Label Stickers
• 1 - My Mind's Eye - Gertie "Girly" Trinkets

Also used: one 4 x 6 photo (or 2 - 3 1/2" x 5" photos), brown pen, brown ink, adhesive runners, glue dots, glimmer mist and rhinestone swirl.

• • Step 1: Lightly spray glimmer mist concentrated on right side of page.
  • Step 2: Cut papers to sizes listed above.
  • Step 3: Layer papers as shown starting with tapestry paper on left side of layout.
  • Step 4: Outline layers with brown pen to add definition.
  • Step 5: Add blue rick rack trim to dot paper as shown.
  • Step 6: Add matted photo(s) over rick rack about 1 3/4" in from right side of layout.
  • Step 7: Layer journaling labels to left side of photo(s).
  • Step 8: Add brooch trinket with button in center to left side of labels.
  • Step 9: Layer "Forever" title and chipboard.
  • Step 10: Add rhinestone swirl and heart trinket.
  • Step 11: Write journaling and ENJOY!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on this blog post and ALL blog posts from International Scrapbook Day.  Four people will win the Lime Twist collection of their choice.  By leaving a comment, you are entered to win! 

{I}NSD 2011–Shanna Vineyard

Shanna really knows how to ROCK cards.  Check out this amazing card using our Lime Twist collection.  Perfect for your last minute card needs (and ours).

Don’t forget the young and young at heart: this flower barrette using our Stella & Rose collection is just what is needed to compliment any hair style!

To celebrate, we are going to give away one of each of our four Lime Twist collections to four lucky winners!  Leave a comment on this blog post (and all blog posts this weekend) by midnight, Thursday, May 12, 2011 for your chance to WIN

Kim’s Scrapbook Style

Trying to define my scrapping style is a difficult one for me. I tend to be a bit of a chameleon in that I tend to design around products, assignments, or photographs, changing up my style as is necessary. It makes my scrapping process much more fun & never boring for my sweet family, who love looking through my scrapbook albums when ever they can. I love the fact that my pages are all different yet all so 'me' at the same time.

After giving it some thought I decided there are definitely common elements in most of my pages which make them unique to me as opposed to a specific style, with often dramatically different results.

· Subtle layering

· Mist

· Sewing

· Border punches

· Hand made or cut out flowers

· And most of all authenticity, an important factor for me.

Here are x2 examples showing you what I mean. The same elements, yet very different.

I Must have done Something right by Kim Watson

And this page that I created in honor of my sweet Mum, whom we affectionately call Gee-Gee, for Mothers Day.

No#1 Mother by Kim Watson

For this page I used the gorgeous Stella & Rose ~ Gertie collection. Don't you just LOVE the zipper trim??? I pulled it apart & made this cute flower from it.

Actually I loved making the flower so much, I decided to photograph my process as I went along. Please excuse the weird colors...it can be tricky trying to sew & hold the camera at the same time :o)

ENJOY!

Zipper Flower Tutorial by Kim Watson.

· Pull the zipper trim apart.

· Gauge it using a needle & thread or your sewing machine on tack function.

· Make sure gauging is even along the length.

· Roll up from the centre.

· Secure underneath with needle & thread.

· Once completely, sew the loose end in place.

· Insert brad.

· Attach to layout using hot glue gun.

Thanks so much to the great team here at My Minds Eye. I have really enjoyed designing for you this month, using your gorgeous products, especially the wonderful Stella & Rose collections.

I will forever be a HUGE fan!!

Happy scrapping wherever you might be on this gorgeous day!

Hoppy Easter Yard Stake

FINALLY!!! It seems like I have been waiting so long to create an Easter home décor project on Good Things Utah.   With Easter coming at the end of April, March was too early to start.  What a delightful day we had around here yesterday, it was warm and the sun was bright for most of the day.  It was a great way to come out of a week of snow storms.  (Alta Ski Resort had 43” of new snow just over the weekend!)

So, the promise of renewal that spring and Easter offer is that much more appreciated by me today.

I had seen some cute yard stakes in one of my favorite home décor magazines and thought they needed to be “Amber-ized”.  With some scraps of wood I had in my basement (if you don’t have any, they are inexpensive at a lumber yard or home store), mod podge, Stella & Rose – Gertie paper, ribbon, rhinestones, buttons and brads… this is what I came up with:

You will be amazed at how simple this project really is!  I’ve even included instructions so it’s even easier!  It’s also easily adapted for any occasion.

Download 2011_04_12_Hoppy Easter Yard Stake (includes bunny pattern and bonus project)

We will be adding the video from the segment when it is available this afternoon.  We’ll also include pictures from a “bonus” Lime Twist project.  (Lime Twist is shipping April 18 – watch for it!)

Bonus project:

Happy spring (or fall ~ depending upon which season it is where you are!)